IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-30 May 2018: Former board members of the National Oil Company-NOCAL, are to restitute US$365,000.00 United States dollars authorized as bonus to members of the board and other senior government officials during the government of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
In a recommendation submitted to President George Weah, the special committee calls for the restitution of US$365,000.00 by members of the board who authorized disbursement of half a million dollars as bonus and honorarium, must, as a matter of law and public policy, restitute the money to the government and the people of Liberia within 30 days from the date of issuance of the report or be charged and prosecuted for ‘misuse of public money’ under subchapter ‘F” (economic sabotage) of the Liberian Penal Law.
the report mandates that chairman of the board and members collectively restitute the amount of US$136, 560. 05 into government’s coffers without delays and those that are to pay the amount include former Chairman of the board of NOCAL Robert Sirleaf, Mr. Fred Bass Golkeh, Dr. Randolph McClain, Amara Konneh, Seward Cooper, Patrick Sendolo, Joseph Howe, Jacqueline Khoury and Iddellla Cooper Shannon.
The Cllr. Nwabudike’s report, further suggests that in addition to restituting the amount, all members of the board of directors of NOCAL during the period should be barred from ever serving on the board of any public corporation in Liberia and that an immediate forensic audit of the NOCAL be commissioned and executed before a new leadership is appointed at the corporation.
The report furthermore adds that each member who received bonus or honorarium after the ExxonMobil agreement, signed for payment be made to restitute the said amount to the government and receipt of such payment published in a recognized daily within 15 calendar days from the date that the submission of the report as a matter of public record.
According to a communication from President George Manneh Weah, which was read in plenary of the House of Representatives Tuesday, May 29, ex-officials hooked to restitute the money include; former National Investment Commission Chairman, Mr. Natty B. Davis US$35,000; former Justice Minister Christaina Tah US$35,000, former Finance Minister Amara Konneh US$35,000, former Board Chairman Robert Sirleaf US$35,000, former Lands, Mines and Energy Minister Patrick Sendolo US$35,000, and former President of NOCAL, Dr. Randolph McClain, US$35,000, respectively.
Others are former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. James Kollie, US$35,000; Cllr. Seward Cooper, US$35,000; Madam Susan Mapples US$15,000, and Iddella Cooper Shannon US$15,000. Also held accountable are; Kou Dorliae US$15,000, Jeff Woods US$15,000, Alpha Shah US$15,000, Anyaa Vohiri US$5,000 and former Gender Minister Vabah Gayflor US$5,000. Total amount to be restituted in government coffers is US$365,000.
Members include Cllr. Ndubuisi Nwabudike- Chairperson, Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull, Cllr. C. Alexander Zoe, Reverend Joseph Gardea Johnson, III, and Mrs. Frances Greaves.
